My first troll was someone who responded to a less than flattering Tweet I sent out about the Koch Brothers. His essential point was “They have one voice, you have one voice, equal contest.”

It amazes me still that people who have the intellectual dexterity to get on Twitter can’t grasp the fact that, no, the Kochs don’t have “one voice”. Their voices are multiplied by their money, their power, their influence. The fact that they’re trying to increase that power by buying The Tribune Co. only accentuates that fact.

Those same people will howl to the moon about the “liberal media”. Some percentage of journalists may be “liberal”, however you care to define that word. But the idea that media conglomerates are “liberal” in the accepted modern usage of that term is laughable. Just this weekend we were treated to Melissa Harris Perry tearfully apologizing for daring to offend the Romneys, even though the offense was mere manufactured outrage. (Perhaps to distract from this.) Meanwhile, Phil Robertson served a suspension of 0 episodes for his racist, homophobic rant in the pages of GQ. Meanwhile, a Fox News contributor waxes philosophically about the possible necessity of “extra-judicially” dealing with President Obama. You shouldn’t wait to hear apologies from them; you’ll grow old in the doing.

I carry no water for Rachel Maddow. I haven’t watched MSNBC even semi-regularly since soon after the beginning of President Obama’s first term, when the network decided that sniping from the “left” was a good business strategy, now that the unifying hatred of G.W. Bush was gone. But, better an independent voice with whom I disagree on the air, than a bought-and-paid-for stooge of money-men of the Right who will try to convince you of the fact that water is dry and the sky is pink. Edward Snowden and Glenn Greenwald bray about “Big Brother” being here; if they had bothered to read 1984, they would realize that the media landscape in which we find ourselves now is more redolent of George Orwell’s warning than anything the NSA has done.

The old truism of “the press is free for those who own it” has become glaringly obvious in our latter days. Five corporations which don’t exactly have the interest of the broad commonwealth at heart now control 90% of all US media, both news and entertainment. The “synergies” of which they speak are merely obfuscations for controlling what gets piped into our homes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They’re fighting Custer’s Last Stand against the hordes who want to curb their privileges, whether in tax policy or in the outsized influence they wield. The world they want to create is the “corpocracy” envisioned by David Mitchell in his novel Cloud Atlas, where corporations have dispensed with ruling through elites and have merely taken over for themselves, as the Earth rapidly dies about them.

But, the same technologies which allow you to watch reruns of Two and a Half Men on the CBS website allow sites like this to flourish, serving as a counter-narrative. This is, no doubt, a guerrilla war we’re waging. But it’s one gaining traction, as the coming generation owns TV’s merely to watch streaming content from pirated sites. The conglomerates don’t care that their news arms hemorrhage money; as long as they drive the narrative, that’s all that the Big 5 care about.

However, human beings have this funny antipathy towards being lied to. The fact that news ratings and approval are down around those of chlamydia is one indication. The media has lost its gatekeeper role. It lost it the moment it broadcast its first car chase. It will just take a few more years for the death to be accepted.

And in the meantime, we all have to throw the Kochs’ script back in their faces. Our voices are no less worthy than theirs.

Liberal Librarian,
You are such an awesome writer and truth teller. Thank you for helping me to keep my sanity. I am so happy that Chipsticks have this site, and you and others have such great minds, and you tell it like it is. THANK YOU!

No problem Eveingeogia : ),
I know how you feel, and that is where I am as well. It shouldn’t have to be this way but as long as I have the blood running warm through my veins, I am going to do all that I can to support President Obama and the Democrats. Order of business; vote like it’s 1999 in 2014. We must show up in masses. We can’t control mainstream media but we can all show up and mean business.

“This is, no doubt, a guerrilla war we’re waging. But it’s one gaining traction, as the coming generation owns TV’s merely to watch streaming content from pirated sites. ….. However, human beings have this funny antipathy towards being lied to. The fact that news ratings and approval are down around those of chlamydia is one indication. The media has lost its gatekeeper role.”

And, We must be vigilant to ensure they never get that ‘gatekeeper’ role, again.

Only the Left are expected to Be Good, Govern, Apologize, Save the Economy, Educate, be Demonize, be Hated, etc while those on the Right get to play a different Game without accountability or responsibility. They reap the benefit to be destructive without any accountability.

As I said, double standards are the root of inequality and injustice. So when people keep telling me “but because they do it doesn’t mean we have to do it” I remind them of this. It can’t be one side doing all the apologizing, all the hard work to pass legislation and policies that benefit the most vulnerable among us, while the other side gets to spread hate speech, obstruct legislation, suppress voters with little to no accountability while still getting hugely rewarded for it.

There is no merit in claiming “moral superiority” if you can’t get shit done at the end of the day and people go hungry, suffer poor health, children go without proper education, live in unsafe neighborhoods, while you’re busy preening and posing on your moral high ground offering apology after apology just to say you are the “good” one. At this point, you’re not being good, you’re being damn self-serving.

Thus I continue to stand by belief that MHP’s apology was utter rubbish. If she wants to keep her job so that she can retain her lifestyle – that’s all good. And it’s her business what she chooses to do with the terms of her employment. But at the end of the day it has nothing to do with her morality.

Agreed pretty much………but in one area. I name 3 people in the 20th Century. They took as good as their opponents dished out. Gandhi, MLK and Mandela.

There was Jesus Christ of Nazareth……a Man and a son of God. No one is expected to match Him.

Then there was Jackie Robinson in Sports. Mohammed Ali with his own version.

Then there is PBO.

Right or Wrong, Only MHP knows her own heart. I will not judge her sincerity. I understand her. Half a bread in the Visual News Media world is better than nothing, perhaps that is where she is. I can’t judge. I just won’t be a party to calling her out one way or another.

In the Media world, those who control the Purse, control the Content. Comcast bought out NBC/MSNBC.

In my opinion, the positive accomplishments of Professor H-P outweigh whatever the circumstances are behind the apparent apology. You may agree, disagree, or agree-to-disagree with her, and/or Rachel Maddow, Rev. Sharpton, Chris Hayes, Ed Schultz, Chris Mathews, and/or any of the MSNBC contributors about anything (and sometimes, it’s helpful to actually LISTEN to what they have to say, because sometimes it IS constructive criticism and not the ultimate damnation of the Obama administration and/or the ultimate betrayal of progressive values overall).

They at least keep the focus on the issues and topics and debates that are “anti-FOX.” If they can get me to tune in on most nights to stay updated on relevant issues — and more importantly, to actually THINK about where I stand on those issues — and hear where they’re coming from regarding various media aspects, then they’ve done their job (emoprogs and all….). :)

Looking at my one hand, All Fingers are simply not equal. Individually made, but together, they are quite useful.

So are the thoughts expressed here. No one knows all. We learn from one another. That is the awesomeness here are TOD ;)

I would not want to agree with all nor would I want all to agree with me. At TOD, I come to learn, have fun and frankly engage those who want to be engaged and who want to find different ways to spread The GOOD that Pres Obama and team are working feverishly to accomplish.

You all need to leave MHP alone. She is not the enemy. Not by a long shot. None of us has walked in her shoes and have no idea what a “hi-yella gal” had to live through. Either way , it wasn’t pretty. So please folks let’s give it a rest. What difference does it make in the grand scheme of things, eh?

As usual, I’m behind on my TOD lurking, but would like to say something about how out of touch the MSM DC-NYC beltway is.

1) NYT endorsing clemency for a foreign spy, a felonious traitor. They were unable to ask themselves a couple of really easy questions:
– Gosh, if Snowden is granted clemency, what kind of precedent does this set?
– Gosh, maybe Snowden isn’t the stand up guy we think he is, since he FLED to China and Russia.

2) Ezra Klein bubble
– My guess is that 95% of Americans have no idea who the heck Ezra Klein is. He is important only to the MSM echo chamber.
– The MSM, including Ezra are Greenwald cultists and they’re all now looking for their own sugar daddy. Ezra has no clue that what does is NOT special, and he was wrong on lots of things last year (Larry Summers for Fed Chair, OMG no hold music on Obamacare phone line, etc.)
– Responses to tweets about his leaving WaPo bear this out. One responder said something to the effect… “What will Paul Krugman do now…” as if Ezra’s credentials were anywhere close to Krugman, a Nobel Laureate and Princeton professor. Ezra & Greenwald cultists really have their (snow white) blinders on.

He is a beautiful man and every child should have the benefit of access to a mind like his, as they learn. I first started to love him, when I saw him speak in front of young students about the joys of science and astronomy, etc. Too great.

It is beautiful music and he has a lot of dedicated fans. One person liked “To build a home” so much they created an hour long loop and, not surprisingly, folk are grateful not to have to be hitting ‘replay’ several times to enjoy a more extended version :)

If it’s any consolation (in the sense that misery loves company), 2013 was the driest year on record in California. I have lived in SoCal for over 50 years, and we did have water restrictions in the late 1980s, but scarily, it looks like the climate change predictions of western US drought are happening now.

Thanks LL for shining some more light on this. Just wanted to clarify—-the Koch boys did not buy the Tribune. They dropped their bid, or were forced to, their interest and proposal was met by repulsion by many interested parties.

MNsure released its latest enrollment figures Friday. By the Dec. 31 deadline for coverage starting Jan. 1, the agency reported 67,805 Minnesotans had enrolled for insurance under the new federal health care law.

That means more than 14,600 people signed up for coverage in the last four days of December. It reflects a last-minute rush to lock down coverage, after many experienced technical glitches with the MNsure website and long waits on the toll-free helpline.

I am really appreciating everyone’s interjections of humor, clarity, perspective and also venting today. I can’t find my tongue at all. This sadness just feels different. I’m just left hoping it lifts some when I get my President back.

Love you back! Try not to be sad, Kathleen. Although I know what you mean – and how many times one or more of us have felt “This sadness just feels different.” That’s when we must try to band together and remember:

“There is an endless supply of paint.”

So glad the President had two weeks in Hawaii, but I, too, will be thrilled to see him back in our world! I think it’s safe to say none of us – no matter how old we each are – have ever felt that way about any other President!

ALBANY — Joining a growing group of states that have loosened restrictions on marijuana, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York plans this week to announce an executive action that would allow limited use of the drug by those with serious illnesses, state officials say.

The turnabout by Mr. Cuomo, who had long resisted legalizing medical marijuana, comes as other states are taking increasingly liberal positions on it — most notably Colorado, where thousands have flocked to buy the drug for recreational use since it became legal on Jan. 1.

NYPD under Guliani, Bloomberg with Stop&Frisk Law kept the courts and jails flourishing in NYC.
While the privileged smoked and drank their private stash in public. Namely, football games, baseball games, L.I.R.R.
The playing field has never been fair in the media, courts, schools, banking institutions, housing market.
The list goes on….

Thinking of LP, big Indy Colts fan, who must be really happy right now, as the Colts pulled off a big come from behind victory in their playoff game against KC Chiefs. And I bet “my” new baby (grandbabe) is goo gooing her delight also—-she was at a game party there, brought her parents along also, her daddy a big Colts fan, her mom still a secret (but sad) Bears fan.

Hello TOD, I have been catching up ALL weekend. Every day feels like Sat. since the holidays began.
HF, you have expressed my sentiments exactly concerning MHP. I agree with you totally. I do not feel sorry for her at all. I am sorry that she got caught up with the right-wing media and got blindsided.
One apology was enough. Mitt Romney deserves only one.
The media always waits in the wing to push the side who pays them and jump on any story to engage PBO.
Eveingeorgia, your anger is justified. They never quit and neither must we.

I thank everyone here for your own opinions. We are ALL entitled to one.

I love it that Rachel is not intimidated. She means it when she asks them to come on her show….they won’t. They are intimidated by her, hiding behind their lawyers.

I still miss Keith Olbermann. I think the reason he was let go had nothing to do with his measly political contribution, but everything to do with his reaction to Gabby Giffords’ shooting, and his calling out exactly what happened and why. This was a portent of things to come, as we are seeing. I would love to hear one of his Special Comments like he used to do on GWB…..perhaps on John Boehner, on Mitch McConnell…..would LOVE one on Eric Cantor……we know he wrote his own program, and he, like Rachel would never read a Koch-prepared script.
I know some called him over the top….but why not? He got ratings and attention and set the framework for conversation. He was right about Gabby Giffords and that horrible event.

She singlehandedly brought down VA Gov Bob McConnell. She brought the issue of Voter suppression to the national stage. She has been on ND and pipe explosions. She started with calling out MI and the undemocratic suppression of duly elected county and town officials from actually governing by the MI state houses and the gov. She has talked about women’s right and LGBTQ rights. When she is On, she is on.

She has disappointed me with NSA, BP and her childish mockery of pres Obama’s address from the Oval office. Yes. I still miss Kieth Olbermann.

I wish they would bring Mr. Keith Olbermann back. I used to rush home on Fridays just to hear him before the weekend. I would love to see his take down segment on what the repukes are doing with Obamacare. Cantor has announced that Obamacare is on the agenda for January (demands), but Unemployment benefits are not. I can’t imagine being one of the 1.3 million individuals who have no means of support because they have lost their support line. This is so hurtful to see these individuals, one lady said; I don’t know what to do, I have nothing and I can’t pay my bills-I have nothing. I cried because I know what that feels like. Those who don’t care have no idea how this pain feels.

For those who are not so good with the computer and they want to talk to someone who could help them concerning Obamacare, what is the number I can give them to call. Do anyone know the number? Maybe I’ll look on Healthcare.gov.

Thanks, I was told about a lady who was taken to the hospital last night, and the lady has no health insurance, she stop taking her blood pressure medicine cause she couldn’t afford it, her blood pressure were sky high, she has diabetes, I’m hoping everything will be okay. I want to talk to her family about looking into the ACA,

On the MHP shit, get ready, because I am delurking to tell the truth and shame the devil. I’m about to put the paws on some folks feelings without filter and some folks may feel some way about it, so I am ready for the hateration. I’m going to piss some people off with my comments and I know it will set some people off, so get ready.

That Steppin Fetchit apology vid from Melissa Harris Perry was just sad. I’m going to keep it real. It was sad. No, it wasn’t a damn sincerity dripping video, it was just someone buckdancing to Mr. Charlie once again. If you are getting the vibe that I am not feeling that video or that Melissa Harris Perry has no sympathy from me, you are right. Karma just checkmated her behind, because I remember she was big and bad berating Barack Obama. I remember this………

She went after President Obama like he was her ex-husband, emasculating him and hitting him below the belt, measuring up his very thought provoking comments as an attack on her personally. It just goes to show that Michelle Obama is a graceful and benevolent woman, because Mrs. Obama could have did what Jill Scott did in this video and nearly catch ass whuppin fever on Melissa for that.

(By the way, Ms. Jilly from Philly also said the very same thing the President said and IS a single mom as well. Her points as per this article…

And when Black Twitter chin checked her for that, she then went bad after us like we slapped her mother. Yeah, when its black folks, you can pull your wig off, kick off your shoes, take your earrings off, do the Ms. Thang neck roll and shake your finger at us and hogcall, but when its white folks, you clam up,shamelessly grovel and tapdance for Mr. Charlie sanging Mammy. How she pointed out she was biracial and came from Mormons as if that would make Mitt Romney and crew show mercy from the thrashing she would probably get from him tomorrow. And his comments with that little Parakeet wife of his will be shameless. It will be like the fake interview with Katie Couric on Real Husbands of Hollywood.

I’m going to say something about the Romney’s adopting that black child. I believe it was done as a cynical political ploy. This family doesn’t do SHIT for ACTUAL charitable good reasons or good faith. These people are ALL about bullshitting niceness and sincerity for TV media appearances. These delusional folks thought they were gonna win in 2012 and thought that since black folks in America would obviously be in a ginormous funk about the first African American President being defeated by a man whose religion considered us demons until 1978, that the way to salve that wound would not be to formulate policies that would benefit people of color, but to have a black grandchild to parade around news cameras to assure white folks that his policies would not really be bad for black folks, because hey BLACK GRANDSON, LOOK HERE! (Because really, thats who that really would be for. Most people of color would see right through that. Except of course, the ones who pine for white peoples seal of approval which now seems to include the aforementioned MHP) I feel bad for the kid, because one day, Kiernan is going to run up on some brothers who will let him know who he is, and that day will be when the Negro wake up call descends on him. Oh, it will happen. With the Romney’s raising him, it is damn impossible NOT to happen.

This whole spectacle of vituperative farce is amazing. Since that election loss in 2012, the media has been popping the Romney’s out like a fuckin Jack In The Box. Just trying and pining to make us realize we made a mistake in 2012 and that these folks should be in there. And really, look at the evidence. The news media saying Barack Obama is unpopular, Barack Obama’s Presidency is over, Barack Obama would lose in a do over election, No one likes Barack Obama, Barack Obama had a bad year, Barack Obama lost the debate and somehow that was bad even though he WON!!!!, Ann Romney is giving Michelle Obama a run for her money in the red dress she wore at her convention, ALL THE BULLSHIT!!!!! And instead of Melissa Harris Perry standing firm and true for the Angela Davis, raise a solid fist principles she supposedly embodies, she caved to pressure from Mr. Charlie and unnecessarily apologized for shit she was absolutely correct on. She doesn’t care about progressive and liberal principles, she cares about her paycheck and livelihood which I guarantee she wouldn’t have if she went back to Tulane.

This is why I am not one of the ones calling for more black voices on news and television. I’m sorry, I’m not for putting more black folks in the anchors chair if all they are is a mouthpiece for white corporate words, Liberal or Conservative. I don’t want it. Don Lemon is a perfect example of this. I would have thought a Black, Gay mid forty year old man would have more self respect than what he is shown. But he is as attention whorish as Miley Cyrus and Snooki. I read his ass when he tried to “George Michael” Jonah Hill in the men’s room.

I don’t want him representing me on television and I highly doubt the LGBT community is embracing him with open arms either. If this is what it means to have black voices on television, then damnit silence me.

I’m not here for this, “We need voices like her’s on television.” I don’t want to hear that rancid shit. Television didn’t win Barack Obama the 2008 or 2012 elections, WE DID!!!! It was us. Stop putting stock in these personalities that are not there for us, but for themselves. Melissa Harris Perry is getting her Negro Wake Up Call and we all need to just let it happen for her sake and ours.

I’m hours late reading this – but ther is no offense in this rant. My favorite part

” I feel bad for the kid, because one day, Kiernan is going to run up on some brothers who will let him know who he is, and that day will be when the Negro wake up call descends on him. Oh, it will happen. With the Romney’s raising him, it is damn impossible NOT to happen.”

The child will be seen as “different” through all his growing years – sooner or later he will want to know why he was taken from his roots by those who have never treated his kind as anything other than inferior.

Anotherslyfox, nothing you said here has offended me. NOTHING. This is the whole truth, plain and simple. Sometimes the truth is uncomfortable….that’s just the way it is. Your comments are very well-said and thought-provoking. I have nothing else to add at this time.

“Television didn’t win Barack Obama the 2008 or 2012 elections, WE DID!!!! It was us. Stop putting stock in these personalities that are not there for us, but for themselves. Melissa Harris Perry is getting her Negro Wake Up Call and we all need to just let it happen for her sake and ours.”

Albeit I’m a 66 year old WHITE guy, but I’ll give you an ‘Amen’ along the lines of rikyrah’s.

Now, Let Us ALL FOCUS on #LandslideDEMS2014 because NOTHING ELSE MATTERS MORE.

After she dragged the President on the ground and then us for trying to disagree with her, I think its fair. Please don’t try that feminist deflection that I’m only attacking her because she’s a woman. I’m not. I’m attacking because she has been among the chorus of people who have gone full bore into lambasting the president for not being tougher and yet not practice what she preaches along with apologizing for comments she didn’t make which probably don’t even really hurt the Romneys but not for comments which probably hurt the Obamas and all of their supporters. Nope, not feelin the solidarity.

I do not see MHP as the enemy…and I disagree with demonizing her…I disagree with some of her programming but she has been right on with many of her programs….I think there is a way of disagreeing with her without the massive pile on…

The problem is, some of you interpret constructive — and sometimes genuine and spot on — criticism of the President and/or WH staff as “OMG YOU’RE ATTACKING MY BARACK!! HOW DARE YOU! YOU ARE HEARBY AN ENEMY FOR LIFE AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO/SAY, I WILL HATE YOU FOREVER!!” You know, the typical bullshit that Tea Partiers do on a daily basis to everyone that disagrees with them on anything…..

Here’s a little secret: It’s possible to disagree with the President and/or his staff and still have enormous respect, admiration, and loyalty to him and/or them. That’s called historical common sense. :)

Governor Dayton made an announcement that the former mayor of Minneapolis R.T. Rybak has suffered a heart attack. He is a big PBO supporter. Please pray for his recovery.

Copied from Facebook:
“On behalf of all Minnesotans, I extend my very best wishes to former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and his family. We all pray for his swift and complete recovery.

“Our thanks go to the emergency responders and medical personnel, whose talents and training made the critical difference in the life of this outstanding leader, who has given so much to the people of Minneapolis and all of Minnesota.”

I only just saw it as I was not on the computer most of the day, taking down Christmas decor and putting things away and getting ready for the big freeze that is on the way. I was scrolling down FB feed and quite shocked to see this. I am glad he is ok and tweeting. A good guy.

Wish him well. From all I’ve read about him, he is a great guy.
And speaking of mayors, I was reminded by this recent horrific incident—–that the Minneapolis mayoral candidate who came in 2nd had his cell phone stolen and was assaulted at a Starbucks at the Mall of America—–by a couple of teenage girls. One of those stories that makes you shake your head—-just pointless violence.

For those of us who have gone through the immigration system in this country, you know that there is usually a level of relationship between your employment status and your immigration status.

In some cases, you loose one you jeopardize the chances (or completely) the other;

Apart from the direct sabotage the Joe Scarbrough (???) did to Mr. Martin Bashir on pushing for him to loose his show and hence job with MSNBC, it is also highly likely that he also may have affected his immigration status (or transition – last I heard he was still a British citizen).

I do not know if this holds in this case but I wonder the extent of damage that may have been done and may explain WHY Mr. Bashir is not very public at this time